Women’s Volleyball Returns to the Big Dance 

The Loyola women’s volleyball team received an automatic bid to the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament after sweeping the University of Dayton in three sets Nov. 24 in the Atlantic 10 conference championship game. 

The Ramblers are heading to West Lafayette, IN to take on fifth seeded Brigham Young University Cougars in the first round of the tournament. 

BYU finished the regular season 19-9 overall and 12-6 in conference play, earning the Cougars sixth in the final Big XII standings. BYU’s appearance in the tournament is their 13th consecutive trip and 37th overall. Arizona State University received an automatic bid for the Big XII conference after going 28-2 during the season. 

The Cougars’ offense dominated their opponents in kills this season 1,428 to 1,324. However, their serving falls to their opponents with 247 to 231 in service errors. The Ramblers have also shown dominance in kills, outscoring their opponents 1,495 to 1,331 and making fewer service errors to their opponents at 261 to 248. 

Second-year outside hitter Claire Little leads the Cougars with 419 kills, and third-year libero Hannah Billeter recorded a team-high 42 aces. For the Ramblers, graduate outside hitter Marta Cvitkovic leads with 331 kills and 49 aces.  

The Ramblers and Cougars are paired with hosts Purdue University — one of nine Big 10 conference teams selected to the tournament — and Western Michigan University, who the Ramblers fell to 3-1 earlier in the season.

If the Ramblers defeat the Cougars, they’ll take on the winner of the Purdue-Western Michigan matchup. 

Loyola is scheduled to play BYU at 2:30 p.m. in West Lafayette Dec. 5. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.